Marsch: Impact captain Arnaud will lead by example

March 7, 201212:00PM EST

Olivier Tremblay

MONTREAL – In Kansas City, they used to call him “captain.” Now you can add “capitaine” to Davy Arnaud’s list of titles.

Head coach Jesse Marsch announced on Tuesday that the 31-year-old Arnaud will be the Montreal Impact’s first MLS skipper in their expansion season, once again praising the veteran of 11 seasons for his leadership, his knowledge of MLS and his ability to lead by example.

“On the field, he brings competitiveness, a will to win and to compete, and that translates to the whole team,” Marsch told reporters after training on Tuesday. “I think that when they see the amount he puts into it every day, they know there’s no room for anybody to take a day off.”

The new Montreal captain, who will wear No. 22 this season, looked honored and humbled when he faced the cameras. But despite the new title, Arnaud isn’t going to modify his approach.

“Nothing really changes for me,” Arnaud told reporters. “Either way, I'll try to be the same player, the same type of leader in the locker room. I say thanks to the club.”

Marsch told reporters there had been a fair share of discussions among the staff in order to determine who would wear the armband, but there is a strong possibility he’d had an idea on Davy Arnaud’s suitability to the role during his playing days.

“Jesse and I had quite a few battles when he was playing,” Arnaud said with a laugh. “I always had a ton of respect for the way he played the game, the way he carried himself on the field. He was a part of some very good teams. He coaches the same way as he led on the field, and I think the guys enjoy playing for him.”